| Topic: |
Religions > Bible |
| User: |
"Peter G. Chase" |
| Date: |
21 Jun 2006 11:50:45 PM |
| Object: |
DN Siding with God's Enemies 6/22/2006 |
DRAWING NEAR
June 22
Siding with God's Enemies
"Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into
court? Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have
been called?" (James 2:6-7).
Favoritism has a way of blinding its victims to reality. James wrote
of Christians who were trying to impress a rich man so they could
benefit from his wealth and social status (vv. 2-3). The rich man
represented the enemies of Christ, yet they gave him preferential
treatment anyway. The poor man represented those whom God chose to be
rich in faith and heirs of His kingdom, yet they treated him badly
and dishonored him (v. 6). That's not only inconsistent, it's
foolish! You can't accomplish God's purposes by siding with His
enemies.
Some ungodly rich people tyrannized Christians by withholding their
wages and even putting some to death (James 5:4-6). They forcibly
dragged Christians to court to exploit them by some injustice or
inequity. They blasphemed the fair name of Christ. The phrase "by
which you have been called" (v. 7) speaks of a personal relationship.
Typically new converts made a public proclamation of their faith in
Christ at their baptism. From then on they were called "Christians,"
meaning, "Christ's own," "Christ's ones," or "belonging to Christ."
So when people slandered Christians, they were slandering Christ
Himself!
That anyone could overlook those evils and show favoritism to the
enemies of Christ shows the subtle and devastating power of
partiality. Today, the circumstances may be different, but the
principles are the same. So for the sake of Christ and His people,
remember the three reasons James gives for not showing partiality:
You and your brothers and sisters in Christ are one with the Lord
Jesus Christ, who is the glory of God revealed (v. 1); God has chosen
the poor to eternal riches (v. 5); and God has called you by His name
(v. 7). If you desire to be like Christ, you cannot be partial. Be
fair and impartial in all your interactions with others.
Suggestions for Prayer:
Is there a personal or business relationship in which you are showing
favoritism to gain some advantage for yourself? If so, confess it to
the Lord and correct it right away.
For Further Study:
Read Romans 15:5-7.
How should Christians treat one another? What impact will we
have if we obey Paul's admonition?
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
James 5:4-6
4 Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you
kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have
reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.
5 You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have
fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter.
6 You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist
you.
Romans 15:5-7
5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be
like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus,
6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to
the glory of God.
~~~
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www2.oneplace.com/Ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@gty.org
NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@wideopenwest.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
http://www.gty.org/Gospel
http://www.gty.org/
http://www.nwbible.org/
To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner was you. -Alistair Begg
.
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